Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center

Fast-Casual Filipino Spot Launches at Liberty Public Market | Eater San Diego

"The holiday weekend ushered in the arrival of White Rice at the Liberty Public Market, the second food stall from chef Philip Esteban after he launched a ramen shop in the same space earlier this year. Started as a COVID-era concept when Esteban shifted his Craft Meals Catering business to a meal service delivery program that donates one meal for every meal purchased to local community groups like National City’s Olivewood Gardens and Father Joe’s Village, White Rice became so popular that the chef opened a dedicated storefront for its savory silog. Silog, a staple Filipino dish based on garlic rice and an egg, is offered any time of day via rice bowls topped with lechon kawaili (crispy pork belly), barbecue chicken skewers, mushroom and tofu sisig, and more, alongside Filipino classics such as sweet spaghetti, ube pandesal, and lumpia Shanghai. Designed to resemble a Filipino sari-sari (corner bodega), the 600-square-foot space is run by chef/kitchen manager Jan Tejada, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and offers delivery and catering service; Esteban is also gearing up to launch other ventures in San Diego including a culinary store and a full-service restaurant in National City." - Candice Woo